Evaluating Sustainability of Prefabrication Methods in Comparison with Traditional Methods

The construction industry is an important economic sector when it comes to using fossil fuels and consequent CO2 emissions and environmental pollution. It also involves considerable investment in resources as buildings and infrastructure last a long time. Considering the importance and influence of the construction industry on any moves toward sustainable development choosing a sustainable method of construction is of prime importance. This paper compares prefabrication methods with traditional construction based on factors affecting the overall sustainability of the construction phase. To do this, after a brief review of energy and the environmental status of the world, sustainable development, sustainable construction and prefabrication methods are defined. Then, by understanding the important role of the construction industry in sustainable development, the literature will be investigated to identify the most important factors affecting the sustainability of a construction project. At the end, prefabricated construction and traditional methods will be compared based on these factors in order to evaluate their potential for contributing to sustainability.